Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun donkey_engine

2 senses of donkey engine

Sense 1
switch engine, donkey engine -- (a locomotive for switching rolling stock in a railroad yard)
       => locomotive, engine, locomotive engine, railway locomotive -- (a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks)

Sense 2
auxiliary engine, donkey engine -- ((nautical) a small engine (as one used on board ships to operate a windlass))
       => engine -- (motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work)